Partition means for display cartons



June 7, 1955 J. J. GELLER 2,710,131

PARTITION MEANS FOR DISPLAY CARTONS Filed June 26, 1953 II" mll 2 United States Patent PARTITION MEANS FOR DISPLAY CARTONS Joseph J. Geller, Chicago, Ill.

Application June 26, 1953, Serial No. 364,235 v 3 Claims. (Cl. 229-15) The present invention relates to display trays, particularly those forming the body portion of cartons, that are provided with partitions to create a multiplicity of cells in order to prevent displacement of the displayed articles.

The object of the present invention is to create a simple and novel cell-forming structure that requires less material and is cheaper than conventional so called partitions or cell cases.

In carrying out my invention where no more than six cells are required, only two preformed cells are used,

they being joined together so as to be adapted to straddle a long, fiat partition strip standing on edge. When this assembly is set into a tray of the proper size, the sides of the double-cell unit and the projecting ends of the partition strip form with the tray walls two additional cells in each end of the tray.

The various features of novelty whereby the present invention is characterized will hereinafter be pointed out with particularity in the claims, but, for a full understanding of the invention and of its objects and advantages, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view of a display carton embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the preformed doublecell device, removed from the carton;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the loose partition strip with which the double cell unit cooperates;

Fig. 4 is a face view of the blank which, when set up, forms the double cell unit;

Fig. 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a section on line 66 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 7 is a section on line 77 of Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawing, 1 represents the body or tray portion of a display carton of any usual or suitable form and construction; 2 being a detachable cover that may be folded down along score line 3 or stand upright, as shown, and is secured to the back of tray 1 by a struck out tongue 2' extending through slot 3 in the back of the tray.

The interior of the tray is divided into six cells by a loose central, longitudinal partition strip 4 standing on edge, together with a double cell unit 5. In the arrangement shown, this cell unit forms two of six cells that are substantially equal in cross-sectional area.

Unit 5 is preferably made from a single, long, rectangular blank 6, cut and scored without any waste of material which may be any usual or suitable cardboard or other tough, bendable composition. This blank is scored transversely along parallel lines 7 so that, if the blank were folded along these lines, there would be formed a rectangular shell that could be held intact upon bonding a narrow flap 8 to the meeting wall of the shell.

in order that there may be formed two connected cells instead of a single long shell, the blank must be cut and scored before any folding is done. The cutting is there- 2,710,131 Patented June 7, 1955 angles to the long corner edges of the sleeves; this line being broken line 9 in Fig. '4. Consequently that part of the blank along line 9 constitutes a hinge that allows one section or cell to be swung down behind the Other. When line 9 isat the longitudinal center of the blank,

the bottom edges of the two cells will be in the same horizontal plane and can rest solidly on the bottom of the I tray when the double cell unit is set into the tray.

The dimension of the double cell unit from front to rear is such that the unit engages both the front and the rear walls of the tray when inserted in the latter. The other transverse dimension of the unit is shown as being one third of the length of the tray, but may vary, depending on the kind of cells desired in the ends of the tray; the double cell unit, the partition strip and the walls of the tray cooperating to form two cells in each end of the tray.

Partition strip 4 is as wide as the height of the double unit at the hinge, so that this unit may straddle the strip and both rest on the bottom of the tray. The partition strip has at its upper edge, in the center, a little upward projection 4. This projection is adapted to extend up through a slot 10 at the juncture of the two cells. As shown in Fig. 4, this slot is created by a cut in the blank, without removing any material but leaving on what later becomes the rear wall of the front cell an upwardly projecting tab 11. This tab conceals the projection 4 when the tray is viewed from the front.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 5, the cover 2 extends down somewhat below the top of the rear portion of the double cell unit. By providing the lower edge of the cover with properly placed slits 12, the side walls of the rear cell may be fitted into these slits; thereby holding the rear end of the cell unit down and also preventing it from shifting lengthwise of the tray.

Further means for securing the double cell unit at the front of the tray are provided. As shown in Fig. 4, cuts are made in the blank 6 that leave cars 14, projecting from opposite sides of what later becomes the front wall of the front cell. These ears lie flat against the inner side of the front wall of the tray when the unit is installed in the latter. The front wall of the tray is shown as containing wide, deep notches 14 on opposite sides of and close to the double cell unit. The material that occupied the space within the notches has been turned down, in the form of long, wide tongues 15 provided at their free ends with tabs 16. These tabs extend down through slots 17 in the bottom of the tray and lock the tongues in their ear-holding positions.

It will thus be seen that when made in accordance with my invention, only two cells and a plain fiat partition strip are needed to provide a tray or the like with six cells, and that the double cells may be shipped in a flattened state so as to take up very little space. It will also be seen that the installment of the cell making structure in its position of final use is simple and easy, requiring no adhesive or extraneous fastenings of any kind, and no tools. Thus there is a saving in cost of material, labor and shipping.

While I have illustrated and described with particularity only a single preferred form of my invention, I do not desire to be limited to the exact details thus illustrated and described, but intend to cover all forms and arrangements that come within the definitions of my invention constituting the appended claims.

I claim: 7

1. The combination with a display tray having front,

rear and endwalls, of a loose, stiff partition strip standing on edge in and extending lengthwise of, the tray, and a double cell unit wherein the two cells are connected only at the top and straddle the partition; said unit being of. a size, to engage both the, front; and. rear walls of, the. tray and to, leave between the unit and each end wall of the tray a space that is divided bythe: par,-

tition into two additional cells, and having at the front:

a pair of ears projecting from opposite sides thereof and lying flat against the front wall of the tray; and tOngufis on the front wall of the tray extending, down over said ears to-hold said unit in the tray.

2. A combination as set forth in claim 1, whereillrthe tray contains slots in thebottom and the tongues, On'the front wall extend down into said slots.

3. The combination as, set forth, in claim 1, wherein the rear wall of, the tray has thereon a piece of: stiii sheet material extending lengthwise of the tray above the d uble. cell. unit, with its lower edgev projecting belowv the top of said unit, wherein said piece has in said edge slits into which the upper marginal portions of the side walls of the rear cell unit fit; and wherein the rear wall of the tray contains a slot while said piece is provided with a tongue extending upwardly through such slot.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,103,238 Zell' July 14, 1914 1,131,773 Davidson Mar. 16, 1915 2,006,822 Andrews July 2, 1935 2,154,085 Bergstein Apr. 11, 1939 2,174,715 Baker Oct. 3, 1939 2,418,350 Holy Apr. 1, 1947 

